William Webb Ellis (
November 24,
1806 -
January 24,
1872) is sometimes credited with the invention of
Rugby football. He was born in
Manchester. The chances are that, although he went to
Rugby School from 1816-1825, the stories of how he founded the game of rugby football are apocryphal. He played
cricket for
Brasenose College, Oxford, and became a clergyman. Unfortunately, the first public claim for his ball carrying exploits came in 1876, four years after his death. Thus he was never able to confirm or deny his status as father of the game.